This month Topshop launches its first ever Secret Store concept space in both the Oxford Circus and New York stores, featuring a premium and directional selection of Topshop Boutique and designer collaboration pieces. Designer collaborations includes: Meadham Kirchhoff, Nasir Mazhar, Maria Francesca Pepe, Emma Cook, Ann-Sofie Back, Michael Van Der Ham and Pamela Love. Two designers from Topshop Emerge will be available at the Secret Store as well featuring Tom Scott and Been d’Hygere. The Secret Store is a temporary fixture in the Oxford Circus and New York stores, for 2 weeks starting from May 26th, make sure to check it out quick!
Entrance to this opulent space will be via eclectic floral arrangements, colourful, mysterious and bespoke. Once inside, pieces will be displayed on antique furniture and inside vintage glass cases, and will include clothing, homeware, accessories and jewelry produced exclusively for the Secret Store. Pieces have a homespun feel, with some items hand finished so that each one is different and special.
Meadham Kirchhoff for TOPSHOP
Meadham Kirchhoff have created packs of ten mixed metal rings or ten multicoloured bangles designed to be worn all together, as in the duo’s SS11 mainline collection. Each gift set is different, and comes packaged in a beautiful embroidered heart-shaped box. Chunky statement rings sit alongside quirky plastic and ornate metal designs, whilst clear glitter bangles come with ethnic fabric bracelets and other assorted styles. This jewellery collaboration follows a clothing line with Meadham Kirchhoff that hits stores mid April.
Nasir Mazhar
Nasir Mazhar is a London-based milliner and NEWGEN-recipient known for interpreting traditional headewear and drawing inspiration from his urban surroundings. Nasir will be reworking three of the ceramic bejewelled crown headpieces he made for the Meadham Kirchhoff SS11 mainline show in his first collaboration with TOPSHOP. He has also created three metal hair combs in geometric designs which are at once deco and modern, like wearable art.
Maria Francesca Pepe for Topshop
Maria designs statement jewellery and clothing, often with a gothic influence. Starting initially as a jewellery designer and working in collaboration with others, Maria now has her own jewellery and clothing line which is based around the concept of ‘Jewellery-Wear’ when jewellery becomes the primary focus of the outfit. For her first collection for TOPSHOP she has created a rose gold heart and gold plates letters spelling out ‘LOVE’ which can be worn either studded onto clothing or hanging from a chain. The set will come with a jersey vest to stud the letters onto. This creates jewellery that is truly personal and can be changed each day according to the wearer’s mood.
Emma Cook for Topshop
Emma Cook is a long-term collaborator with TOPSHOP. For Secret Store, Emma has developed sheer nude underwear that features tattoo style print embroidery on mesh. Pieces have a 50’s influence and include a bra, high-waisted knickers and a body.
Ann-Sofie Back for Topshop
Ann-Sofie Back returns to collaborate with TOPSHOP on her sixth collection. She has become well known for her subversion of everyday garments and exploration of clothes and how we use them to disguise ourselves and is an essential ticket during London Fashion Week. For Secret Store, Ann-Sofie has designed a net bag with dream catcher embellishments and a matching dreamcatcher necklace with feathers
Michael Van Der Ham for Topshop
Current NEWGEN recipient Michael Van Der Ham is known for his patchwork juxtaposition of different fabrics, colours and textures in his pieces. He will be producing a crushed velvet wedge sandal for Secret Store inspired by his SS11 collection in two colorways -navy and blush.
Pamela Love for TOPSHOP
Pamela Love is the first American and also the first jewellery designer to collaborate with TOPSHOP. The collection is the perfect mix of modern New York style and traditional Southwestern design, drawing inspiration from South American and Native American and remaining true to her original aesthetic.
TOPSHOP BOUTIQUE
TOPSHOP’s in-house team have produced a collection of bags and clothing especially for the Secret Store, which will be available alongside some other secret surprises. Bags in luxurious fabric feature quirky details, AS velvet clutch bag features Mexican floral embroidery of quintessentially English flowers like hyacinths, crocuses and daffodils. A black backpack with zips comes in butter soft leather. TOPSHOP’S in house team has designed thirty limited edition TOPSHOP Boutique styles for the Secret Store, many of which are vintage-inspired and feature luxurious fabrics and finishes. Key pieces include the gothic bride maxi dress in antique lace, the cream crochet bikini set, the sheet organza prom dress with floral collar, and the black satin maxi dress with multicoloured floral embroidery.
The Unique Archive
Four iconic pieces from Unique collections of yesteryears will be available to buy again, some of which have never been produced despite huge demand. This is an amazing opportunity to buy collectable Unique pieces, including a blouse and dress from AW07, a grey marl playsuit from SS08 and two surfboard maxi dresses from SS10.
Tom Scott
Tom Scott is a New York based designer whose work is characterized by architectural construction that is simultaneously modern and understated, sophisticated and feminine. He will join the TOPSHOP Emerge stable for SS11, with his pieces sitting within the Secret Store space. Tom’s SS11 collection, entitled “the bomb”, borrows its name from a 1915 Iowa College yearbook found on ebay. Inspired by forgotten sports and utility uniforms and classic Americana, Scott takes an innovative and humorous approach in shape, stitch and proportion. A key piece is the silver raffia T-shirt, hand made in Bolivia by a women’s cooperative with silver and clear raffia knotted together.
BubblesPop 